Food Food and more Food!!!

Mitch and Lisa decided to have us all over for dinner on Sunday night and what a dinner it was! With the left over crawfish, Mitch made crawfish pie (on the same lines as chicken pot pie...only way tastier and with crawfish!!!) and his famous gumbo. Though I didn't eat any of the gumbo, I did try the crawfish pie!!! Boy was it a spicy good treat! I paid for it later thanks to the third trimester reflux I have had, but it was worth it! Mitch's brother Cole made homemade bread that was better than any bread I have tasted in my life! YUMMMM-O!!! Needless to say it was a great meal that was topped off with caramel brownies and Lisa's decedent Carrot Cake! Needless to say, I will be tipping the scales at my next visit to the doctors!!! Thanks for all the good food!

While I didn't snap any pictures of the chefs in action, I was able to get a few random pictures just after dinner! Unfortunately I had to dine and dash since it was close to Lexie's bedtime.


Marissa, Lexie and Russ having fun at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mitch's house...

...goofing around on the new couch...um, is that allowed???

Still goofing around...with a story from time to time!

Pawing for Eggs

Sunday morning, Russ and Michael headed back up to Humble to play a round of golf with my dad and some of his friends at the club. While they were keeping busy at Kingwood, we loaded up and headed to the park for an Easter Egg hunt. Now this was not your run of the mill Easter festivity...it was an Easter Egg Hunt FOR DOGS!!! I have never heard of such a thing and wouldn't dare dream of missing it especially since Lexie just adores dogs!
Debbie, Spencer, Lexie and I loaded Nola into the mini-van and picked up Miss Carol and her three dogs (yes...3!!) We met up with Mitch, Lisa and their two dogs, along with Cole and Whitney (Mitch's brother and niece). The weather was picture perfect...along with most of the pooch participants!

All the pups lined up and patiently waited for the fun to begin.

Kali showing off her costume...
Mitch, Cole, Miss Carol, Lisa and Whitney are anxiously awaiting the egg hunt with baskets in hand!!!
Random photos of pups in their costumes.
Lexie taking it all in...she doesn't know which way to look...there are puppies every where!

Miss Carol and Debbie gathering eggs with the pooches.
Lisa helping Kali to gather her eggs.
Lexie takes to the stage to dance, dance, dance...
...still dancing....
...just check out those moves! She had such a good time!!!

A Humbling Visit

Saturday morning, the guys were up early for a trip up to North Houston/Humble. Spencer was invited to play in a golf tournament and it just so happened that the tournament location was minutes away from where my dad has a house. Russ, Michael and Spencer braved the elements (it was 50 degrees and very, VERY windy) and headed up for the tournament. We headed out a few hours later and met up with everyone at my dad's place.

Lexie greeted Grandpa with a big hug and a kiss. She was so excited to go swimming in Grandpa's new pool...

...after tempting fate with the killer dog (not really...but kinda)...

...and some more time on Grandpa's lap, she was ready to get down to business...some splashing in the pool!!!

Originally, the forecast called for sunny skies and warm weather...but I don't think I would have called it "warm". It was very sunny, but the breeze was a bit chilly. That didn't stop us from taking advantage of the new pool and hot tub though!


Looks like a little piece of paradise, just off the fairway...yes, Russ was in heaven!!!


And to think there was a hurricane that passed through just a few months ago!


A view of the water fall...


Luckily, the hot tub heated up in a matter of minutes...Lexie is ready for the water and is sporting her new bikini (that was just a TAD too big)!!!

Water babies having fun!!!! What a pair!

Back from his golf tournament, Spencer is ready to relax and enjoy the warm water with the rest of us!

Lexie, Grandpa, Spencer, Marissa and I were all smiles...and staying warm...until we had to get out of the water that is!


After the mid-morning water adventure, my dad cranked up the heat in the pool and on the grill. While Lexie took a nap, we all chowed down on some burgers and margaritas...well some of us only had burgers! After lunch and nap time, we all gathered outside since it had warmed up a bit more. Lexie was ready for round two in the water...this time it was Russ's turn! Spencer and Josh (Miss Jennifer's son) braved the elements and headed for the pool. We even got a surprise visit from The Halls! It was great to see Rod and Denise!
Lexie enjoying some time in the water with her Daddy...what a view!!!


After drying off and saying our goodbyes, it was time to pack up and head back down to the south side of Houston. We had such a great visit and Lexie really enjoyed her time with Grandpa! We all did! Thanks again dad for a great visit!

A Southern Affair????

DAY ONE...PART TWO

This is supposed to be dinner??? You have got to be kidding me!!!!



So I have been to a clam bake, sea food fest, and enjoyed lobster while in Maine...but I have never ever even heard of a crawfish boil. I was clearly missing out on this southern tradition! Needless to say I was a bit apprehensive about the whole experience, especially when you see 70 pounds of these little critters moving around moments before they are going to be your dinner!

Nola is just licking her chops...clearly this isn't her first crawfish boil!!!!



Lexie's new friend...she wasn't quite sure about him at first...but neither was I!!!!


Wow, what a treat! For those of you that have never had the experience of partaking in a crabfish boil, I highly recommend it! It is as much of a social event as it is a meal! It was a lot of work, for a little bit of meat, but luckily Marissa was willing to show me the ropes, and it was worth it!

What a spread...crawfish, corn and potatoes...Yummmmm-o!!!!


Not even rain could stop Marissa, Uncle Mitch, Uncle Michael, and Miss Carol from enjoying this feast!


The rain stopped and Lexie steals a sip of Daddy's drink...life is good!!!



After traveling through golf ball size hail...Grandpa and Miss Jennifer finally made it down for a visit. I'm not sure if she was trying to steal a kiss, or a sip of Grandpa's drink!


Lexie takes grandpa outside to show him a special treat...


...she was so excited to show Grandpa all the crawfish!



Round two...Uncle Michael and Aunt Debbie are back for more crawfish!!!


Even Nola jumps in on the action...while no one is watching of course!!!

Much Needed Trip to Texas

Russ had scheduled a few days off so we decided to take full advantage of the opportunity and planned a mini-vacation to visit with family down in Houston, Texas. The trip down started with a bit of a rough patch when we were delayed for almost an hour and a half just short of the runway. Ughh...oh, and did I mention that Lexie DIDN'T have a seat of her own. YIKES! It was a loooooong flight down there, but we all managed to get by, although Lexie never once fell asleep. All things considered, she was VERY good!

Once we arrived, it was smooooooth sailing! It was too late to get to see Spencer and Marissa, and Lexie was out cold by the time we got to Michael and Debbie's, so we chatted for a bit and then headed to bed ourselves! The next day was filled with loads of fun! While the kids were in school, Russ and Michael headed to the golf course (no surprise there!!!) and Debbie, Nola and I kept Lexie entertained...or was it the other way around???

Aunt Debbie had TONS of Easter eggs and buckets for Lexie to play with...she was like a kid in a candy store....Lexie that is, but I think Aunt Debbie was having just as much fun!


We cleaned up the eggs and then it was on to Nola...


...then a big kiss for Aunt Debbie...



...then back to playing with Nola. Lexie just loves Nola! Every morning she greeted her with a big "Hi Dog". Too cute!


Once the guys got back from playing golf, Debbie and I ventured out to Target and to get a little bit of pampering....ahhhh, pedicures! We got home just in time to greet Spencer and Marissa from school and the fun continued!

Lexie takes a quick time out to sit with Uncle Michael while he read her a story...Good Night Moon...one of her favorites!


Daddy looks beat but still has enough energy to play with Lexie!!!



Lexie was just giddy about Spencer...or "Cen-ser" as she liked to call him. It was a big kiss for him when he got home from school.


Day one still isn't over...part two is coming soon...it just needs its own post!!

Spontaneous Visitors!!!

I couldn't have been more excited when Becky called and said she and Molly were up for a road trip! We have been talking about getting these two little ones together since Christmas, but with hectic schedules, haven't had the opportunity. We jumped at the chance to welcome them here for a little while...and though it was a very quick visit...we had a TON of fun!

The girls didn't get a chance to play much on the first day since our visitors got a little bit of a late start, but that didn't stop them from having a good time. Wednesday we loaded up and went to Toddler Time! The girls danced and sang and played with musical instruments! I was really hoping the weather would have been a bit nicer so we could get to the park, but mother nature had other plans. It rained most of the day so we made our own fun inside. The girls played well together with minimal "sharing" issues!!!! We are so thrilled that they made the trip...and are keeping our fingers crossed for an Easter reunion!!



Waiting by the door to go to TODDLER TIME!!

Molly jumped right in on all the fun...look out American Idol,there is a new contestant in town!!!

Lexie is getting in on the fun too!

Molly is LOVING her first trip to Toddler Time!


Lexie was glad Molly got to join us this week and hopes she comes back again!

Back at the house, they are on a serious mission for more FUN!!!

Uncle Russ gives Molly a lift on Lexie's airplane!!!
Then it is back to business taking turns "helping" each other.
Molly was feeling quite motivated and decided to squeeze in a workout!
She is a real pull-up pro...she is showing Uncle Russ how it is done!


Is it time to wind down already??? The girls snuggled with Russ for a story time adventure with Dora.

Up from her nap...it was back to full speed in the Kitchen for Molly...(I think I smell a great birthday gift mom and dad...hint hint hint)

After her nap, Lexie was ready to go...poor George didn't know what hit him!!
Of course we couldn't resist tub time for these two water babies! Oh what fun they had splashing in the tub!!!





Not the most flattering picture of these two cuties, but it is just so adorable to see the expressions on their faces!


Clean from head to toe and all smiles! Time to towel off.


It was pajama jammy-time for Lexie and Molly. Don't they look so sweet holding hands!



Still holding hands on our way to the kitchen for a bed time snack.


It was a race up the stairs after a long and fun filled day...


...a few good night kisses, and they were out cold!